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It all happened so suddenly, Peach didn’t know how to react. One moment, she was taking a stroll in the palace gardens while her recently baked pound cake cooled, and the next thing she knew, a chain chomp was crashing through the hedges across the lawn, heading straight for her.
The two gardener toads who had been tending to the bushes shrieked and cowered as the massive beast bounded between them, snarling and barking. The ground shook with every booming bounce the chain chomp took. Its slobbering maw opened wide, like it was readying to swallow Peach in one bite.
Panic overtaking her senses, Peach could only stumble a few steps before her shoe slipped on the slick grass and the rest of her followed. She frantically scrambled backwards but her back hit the hedge behind her—there was nowhere left to go.
Boom, sshing, boom, sshing. The chain chomp was closing in.
Peach closed her eyes. Raised her arm to shield herself.
Boom, sshing, boom, sshing.
As she braced for her inevitable doom, the thought crossed her mind: I didn’t even have the chance to offer some cake to—
There was a strangled yelp.
And then silence.
Peach opened her eyes.
The chain chomp loomed in front of her, but all she could see was him.
At the end of the chain, straining with all his might, stood Mario. His muscular arms pulled hard at the chain, shaking slightly from the tension. With his boots firmly planted in the grass, he leaned his weight back to somehow keep her would-be attacker in place with his incredible strength. The look on his face held no fear, just pure determination. He didn’t seem to care that he could potentially be the raging beast’s next meal. He seemed ready to give his all to protect her, a stranger he had met only a couple days ago. He was so… selfless.
Peach’s heart pounded.
With a hefty tug from Mario, the chain chomp yelped again and turned to face him, growling.
Eyes narrowed, he stared it down.
The chain chomp barked and lunged for him, jaws wide, but at the last second, Mario swiftly rolled out of the way.
BAM! Water and marble debris went flying as the chain chomp slammed into the stone fountain. Its eyes rolled, disoriented with the impact.
Mario got to his feet and grabbed hold of the chain again. Cautiously, he approached the woozy beast, hand out in a pacifying gesture. His lips moved but his quiet words weren’t audible from where Peach was sitting, still frozen in shock and wonder. Despite having just been attacked by the chain chomp, he didn’t appear to harbor any ill will towards it.
The chain chomp seemed to be calming down. After a few soothing rubs, its posture sagged. Having let out all of its restless energy, it would probably fall asleep soon, as its kind were wont to do.
Just then, a group of toads charged onto the lawn, armed with spears. The one riding a yoshi called out to Peach, “Don’t worry, Your Highness!” and then to Mario, “We’ll take it from here.”
Mario dropped the chain and bee-lined for Peach. “Princess!” His accented voice was full of worry. “Are you hurt?” His hands hovered anxiously before they took one of hers. His grasp felt solid and warm.
Safe. She was safe now.
Peach exhaled shakily. “I’m—I’m fine. I’m alright.”
He sighed. “Grazie a Dio.” His eyes held so much sympathy. “You must have been so scary.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the endearing mistake. “I was scared. But as soon as I saw you, I…” She threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Mario, thank you so much for saving me!”
He stiffened at the contact.
Oh no, was that inappropriate? She started to pull away, but then she felt him return the embrace.
His arms wrapped tightly around her, pressing her closer than she would have dared.
Rather than making her feel trapped, the closeness felt secure, as if in his arms, no harm could come to her. She felt so safe with him.
“You are very welcome,” he said earnestly. “But I wish I came more soon.”
“You arrived at the perfect time.” Reluctantly, she pulled away and then looked him in the eyes. “I couldn’t have asked for a better hero.” Her heart was full.
Face turning bright red, he scratched the back of his neck. “Ah, I was just coming to fix the drain of the fountain… But now—” He chuckled sheepishly— “I think you will need more than a plumber to fix that.”
She looked over to where his thumb was jutting. What remained of the fountain was nothing but smashed ruins and mangled pipes spraying haphazardly. “It’s nothing,” she reassured him. “I’m just glad that… you’re safe too.” Her own cheeks felt warm.
He looked down, a small smile tugging at his lips. He had dimples. She hadn’t noticed that before.
Something about his expression made her breath hitch. Butterflies tickled her stomach. “You know,” she ventured, “it really wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t reward you for your help…” She bit her lip. “Would you… like to have afternoon tea with me? I just made a cake, and I can’t eat it all by myself, you know.”
“Oh!” He blinked fast. “I didn’t—You don’t have to give me anything.”
“But I want to. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to, but if you’d like… I’d like that too.”
His smile returned, brighter than ever. “Then I would love to join you.”
She smiled back at him. “Shall we?”
Mario helped her up. For a moment, his fingers lingered around hers before letting go. His hands were so gentle, and yet so strong—just like his heart.
The blush returned to Peach’s face as she walked beside him on the gravel path. It was a silly thought, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to be in danger more often. After all, with such a selfless and kind-hearted hero to rescue her, how could she feel afraid?